Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Saturday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 5th September 2026
Last updated
Fri 4th Sep 26 at
4:17PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Brisk and chilly westerly winds in the morning, starting gale-force on high tops in Scotland, but lowering speeds. A little light rain, brief showers mainly western Scotland with varied cloud on tops. Often dry with cloud breaks to tops for eastern Highlands, England and Wales, some sun and hazy high cloud.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales at first lessen; mostly dry, cloud lifting.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 50mph at dawn-early morning with stronger gusts high tops. Easing during morning to 30mph by midday, 20-25mph during afternoon through to dusk. By evening turning southwesterly; rising well into night to 50mph+.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions widely at first, frequent buffeting and considerable wind chill, moderating with time to be fairly small afternoon and evening. Deteriorating again into night.
How Wet?
Rare brief showers
Well scattered light showers spreading from the west during the day. Into the night, some rain developing from the southwest.
Cloud on the hills?
Clearing most tops
Patchy cloud drifting over higher slopes in the morning, mostly in western Cairngorms and above 900-1000m. Lifting to upper slopes and often above many tops afternoon, odd patches near Ben Alder.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, best in east; high cloud tending to develop later from south. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 8C afternoon, little change or rising a degree or so higher into night. Feeling like -7C in the wind early in day, colder highest tops; then +2C afternoon.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 6th September 2026
Last updated
Fri 4th Sep 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 50 to 70mph, strongest over Cairngorm plateau, plus local powerful gusts downslope to north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions on exposed terrain walking and balance difficult in places. Feeling cool in exposure despite mild air.
How Wet?
Patchy rain
Drizzly rain in the air, some steadier rain at times mainly in western areas near A9. A band of more frequent rain spreads from the west late in the day and into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent south
Banks of cloud over high terrain, likely often rolling across Cairngorm plateau, but breaks forming northward.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of weak sun mainly north. Hazy.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10 to 12C, humid all day, rising on some slopes to 14C. Feeling near to 0C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 7th September 2026
Last updated
Fri 4th Sep 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 45 to 60mph, but likely often 70mph higher Cairngorms, speeds tending to rise during day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions with frequent buffeting, any mobility increasingly very challenging high up. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain returns, heavy at times
Overnight rain likely clears eastward up to dawn, leaving a drier window into the morning, then some heavy bursts move in from southwest, may become frequent.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying on higher slopes
Often confined above 900-1000m and breaking for periods above 1200m, particularly north and eastern areas. Lowering banks over tops around rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun mainly morning northern Cairngorms. Visibility good when dry, possible slight haze, then reducing in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C, little change all day. Feeling like -7 to -10C in the wind on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Generally unsettled onward into next week with spells of rain and showers moving in from the Atlantic, accompanied by frequently strong to gale force mountain winds. Temperatures will vary, mildest toward the south, but cooler air moves in from the north at times bringing higher Scottish tops occasionally close to freezing point. Indications favour improving weather patterns during mid-month as high pressure builds from the south.